page_title: Dog n Suds
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Dog n Suds / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Dog n Suds bottle
context_page_description: Dog n Suds is a midwestern United States chain of hot dog and root beer drive-in style eateries, featuring in-car carhop service. The chain was part of the widespread popularity of drive-ins during the 1950s and 1960s, and still operates several locations. Dog n Suds serves fast-food staples including hamburgers, french fries, and soft drinks.
context_section_description: The first Dog n Suds was opened in 1953 in Champaign, Illinois, by University of Illinois music teachers James Griggs and Don Hamacher. The chain grew rapidly throughout the 1950s and 1960s, and a training center was established in Champaign, named "Rover College" after the dog on the restaurant signage. At its peak in 1968, the chain had about 650 restaurants. Griggs sold his interest in the business in the early 1970s. The company was sold to Frostie Enterprises in 1974, who owned the Frostie and Stewart's brands of root beer. Frostie later abandoned the franchise business and sold the rights to make Dog-n-Suds branded root beer to Don and Carol VanDame, owners of a Dog n Suds in Lafayette, Indiana.
  In 1991, the VanDames purchased the Dog n Suds trademark and identity rights. In 2001, they created a new company, TK&C's LLC, to administer licensing rights for the brand.
  Don Hamacher died on January 4, 2013.
caption: Dog n Suds Root Beer, which was bottled and sold in stores
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